Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, has approved ₦104,000 as the new minimum wage for the state civil servants.
Uzodimma announced the new wage Tuesday night during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House, Owerri.
The adjustment of the minimum wage from ₦76,000 to ₦104,000 takes effect from September , 2025.
The governor also approved substantial increases for other categories of public workers.
Doctors’ minimum pay will now rise from ₦215,000 to ₦503,000, while salaries for lecturers in tertiary institutions will increase from ₦119,000 to ₦222,000.
Uzodimma explained that the decision was aimed at alleviating economic hardship, boosting productivity, and strengthening family welfare in the state.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows.
This is our way of investing in Imo people,” Uzodimma said.
He recalled that his administration, which came into office in 2020, had faced numerous challenges including insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, the removal of fuel subsidy, and disputes over wages.
Despite these obstacles, the governor noted that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue had grown from ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly, while allocations from the Federation Account rose from about ₦5–₦7 billion in 2020 to approximately ₦14 billion.
He further revealed that the state’s debt profile had been reduced from ₦280 billion to less than ₦100 billion.
Uzodimma acknowledged the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy but insisted the policy would yield long-term benefits.
“It is a thing of joy that we have started seeing the dividends of that bold decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy.
“What government is confronted with now is how to ensure that the dividends of that policy trickle down to the common man on the street,” he said.
The governor pledged transparency in resource allocation and disclosed that payment of the final ₦16 billion tranche of gratuities owed to pensioners would commence on August 27.
He also highlighted new health insurance schemes, upgraded health facilities, and the state’s participation in the Federal Government’s initiative to establish 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward.
Calling for stronger cooperation with organized labour, Uzodimma urged workers to uphold ethical practices and avoid redundancy.
Reacting to the development, Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Imo State, described the wage review as a major victory for workers, praising the governor for making Imo one of the highest-paying states in Nigeria.
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress Chairman, Uchenna Ibe, commended the governor’s political will in implementing the wage increase and driving broader reforms. (vitalnewsngr.com)
